That dress looks nice on you.

Cookie racism aside.

Today is Wednesday. Also known as Ash Wednesday. Also known as the beginning of Lent.

Most people give something up for Lent. I do sometimes. For the life of me I can’t remember what I gave up last year, only what Meagan gave up (WANT SOME CHEESE AND CRACKERS, DEAR?).

A blogger I read (and have read for quite sometime) does something she calls CAOK: Calculated Acts of Kindness.

Throughout Lent she does kind acts for people specifically with the intent of just being kind and expecting nothing in return. A “pay it forward” kind of attitude.

She will bring a plate of cookies into work, knit a scarf and mail it to an old friend, compliment the stranger who serves her coffee.

“In a nutshell, I think the easiest way to make the world a friendlier, more peaceful place is to make your home, neighborhood, or workplace a friendlier, more peaceful place. You’ve got to walk the walk.”

And so during this Lenten season I will be applying the CAOK method instead of giving something up (which ultimately does nothing for me on a personal or faith based level anyway). I will offer up a report on how it went over when Lent ends.

Expect to be laden with scarves and cookies during the next forty days.